Guidebook for Akumal
Food Scene
After spending thirty years searching the planet, we have confirmed that this is the best beach bar in the world. It’s half a mile south of Nahil and located beachfront on our bay, a lovely walk right down the beach. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the high season, they have great food, reasonable prices, and friendly service. The best part is you get to enjoy it all under a palapa (beach hut) on the sand. The bar is also lively and fun, and be sure to check out the crow’s nests, too. The waiters will send up your drinks in a bucket! Favorite dishes are the ceviche, the stuffed avocado, and the cochinita pibil tacos (pork prepared Mayan style).
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La Buena Vida
NorthAfter spending thirty years searching the planet, we have confirmed that this is the best beach bar in the world. It’s half a mile south of Nahil and located beachfront on our bay, a lovely walk right down the beach. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the high season, they have great food, reasonable prices, and friendly service. The best part is you get to enjoy it all under a palapa (beach hut) on the sand. The bar is also lively and fun, and be sure to check out the crow’s nests, too. The waiters will send up your drinks in a bucket! Favorite dishes are the ceviche, the stuffed avocado, and the cochinita pibil tacos (pork prepared Mayan style).
This is just a few doors down from Nahil, right on the sand. This is an upscale, romantic spot with unique dishes, great cocktails, and a lovely view. Opens at 2pm. Lobster served on Fridays. Great place for a martini!
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La Lunita
This is just a few doors down from Nahil, right on the sand. This is an upscale, romantic spot with unique dishes, great cocktails, and a lovely view. Opens at 2pm. Lobster served on Fridays. Great place for a martini!
This is located in “town” near the white arch as you enter Akumal. The menu is extensive and varied, and the chef is outstanding! Menu includes light dishes like salads and wraps, burgers, tacos, delicious breakfasts (the pancakes and French toast are both amazing), and tasty rich dinner entrees as well. They have expanded and now include a sports bar with great sports coverage. Finally, be sure to taste some of Lucy’s homemade ice-cream served there. Open 7am til 9pm. Take out orders available: 984-875-9138.
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Turtle Bay Bakery and Cafe
This is located in “town” near the white arch as you enter Akumal. The menu is extensive and varied, and the chef is outstanding! Menu includes light dishes like salads and wraps, burgers, tacos, delicious breakfasts (the pancakes and French toast are both amazing), and tasty rich dinner entrees as well. They have expanded and now include a sports bar with great sports coverage. Finally, be sure to taste some of Lucy’s homemade ice-cream served there. Open 7am til 9pm. Take out orders available: 984-875-9138.
This is where Akumal started. Located on Akumal Bay (near the white arch and on the beach), you have two options here: the Lol Ha Snack Bar or the Lol Ha Restaurant. Both have amazing views of lovely Akumal Bay. The Snack Bar menu is extensive and includes traditional Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches and salads. The Restaurant is a bit more upscale and beautifully designed. Happy hour is great here!
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Lol-Ha Restaurant
This is where Akumal started. Located on Akumal Bay (near the white arch and on the beach), you have two options here: the Lol Ha Snack Bar or the Lol Ha Restaurant. Both have amazing views of lovely Akumal Bay. The Snack Bar menu is extensive and includes traditional Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches and salads. The Restaurant is a bit more upscale and beautifully designed. Happy hour is great here!
This is our “secret” spot you must try for lunch. Located about 10 miles south of Akumal, this hidden restaurant at the end of Soliman Bay serves the best fresh seafood on the beach under beautiful palm trees. To get there, take the 307 Highway south for 15 miles and look for a sign for “Soliman Bay.” Take the retorno (u-turn) and head back north until you see a sign for “Soliman Bay/Sahara Café”. Go right and drive down the dirt road. You’ll enter a gate and just tell the guard you are doing to Chamico’s. Continue down the dirt road until it ends. There you will find the best ceviche, shrimp and lobster you’ll ever have! Plates run from $15-$25 dollars.
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Chamico's
This is our “secret” spot you must try for lunch. Located about 10 miles south of Akumal, this hidden restaurant at the end of Soliman Bay serves the best fresh seafood on the beach under beautiful palm trees. To get there, take the 307 Highway south for 15 miles and look for a sign for “Soliman Bay.” Take the retorno (u-turn) and head back north until you see a sign for “Soliman Bay/Sahara Café”. Go right and drive down the dirt road. You’ll enter a gate and just tell the guard you are doing to Chamico’s. Continue down the dirt road until it ends. There you will find the best ceviche, shrimp and lobster you’ll ever have! Plates run from $15-$25 dollars.
Also located “in town” near the white arch as you enter Akumal, this is a new, upscale Italian restaurant with pasta, pizza and a few signature meat dishes. Delicious food, beautiful atmosphere and good service. Ask the bartender for a “Tequila Mockingbird!”
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Taverna Akumal
Also located “in town” near the white arch as you enter Akumal, this is a new, upscale Italian restaurant with pasta, pizza and a few signature meat dishes. Delicious food, beautiful atmosphere and good service. Ask the bartender for a “Tequila Mockingbird!”
Right next to Yal Ku Lagoon is a lovely Italian restaurant nestled under a palapa, which serves homemade pastas. Closed on Tuesdays. Bring your bug spray!
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Hotel Que Onda
Caleta YalkuRight next to Yal Ku Lagoon is a lovely Italian restaurant nestled under a palapa, which serves homemade pastas. Closed on Tuesdays. Bring your bug spray!
Also located “in town” near the white arch as you enter Akumal, this little seafood restaurant serves fresh local caught fish and some traditional Mexican plates. Prices are cheap, waiters are lively, and the drinks are strong. Bring bug spray!
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La Cueva del Pescador
Also located “in town” near the white arch as you enter Akumal, this little seafood restaurant serves fresh local caught fish and some traditional Mexican plates. Prices are cheap, waiters are lively, and the drinks are strong. Bring bug spray!
This is an amazingly cool and chic restaurant/hotel. It is indoor/outdoor with a Bali and Indian inspired décor. It would be impossible for you to not be completely relaxed in this soothing environment. It’s great to grab a drink here and eat at Chamico’s or vice versa. Look for Oscar and Lalo’s restaurant on the freeway and then take the dirt road across the street towards the ocean.
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Jashita Hotel & Pandano Restaurant
Punta SolimanThis is an amazingly cool and chic restaurant/hotel. It is indoor/outdoor with a Bali and Indian inspired décor. It would be impossible for you to not be completely relaxed in this soothing environment. It’s great to grab a drink here and eat at Chamico’s or vice versa. Look for Oscar and Lalo’s restaurant on the freeway and then take the dirt road across the street towards the ocean.
Drinks & Nightlife
Playa Del Carmen is large and can get congested and overwhelming. The beaches are not nearly as nice as Akumal and Tulum, so no need to bother visiting them. The main draw of this city is “Fifth Avenue”, which is one block from the ocean and runs parallel to it for about two miles. It is a cobblestoned street for foot traffic only that has hundreds of higher end restaurants and shops, with a truly international flair and wide variety of food. It really comes to life in the evening, so passing on lunch and waiting for dinner is best. We’d actually recommend arriving before dinner and strolling through the shops, bars, and restaurants before you decide where to settle in for dinner.
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Playa del Carmen
Playa Del Carmen is large and can get congested and overwhelming. The beaches are not nearly as nice as Akumal and Tulum, so no need to bother visiting them. The main draw of this city is “Fifth Avenue”, which is one block from the ocean and runs parallel to it for about two miles. It is a cobblestoned street for foot traffic only that has hundreds of higher end restaurants and shops, with a truly international flair and wide variety of food. It really comes to life in the evening, so passing on lunch and waiting for dinner is best. We’d actually recommend arriving before dinner and strolling through the shops, bars, and restaurants before you decide where to settle in for dinner.
Sightseeing
There are several ruins nearby. The main allure of the Tulum ruins is the spectacular coastal setting, but you will be looking at that every day from your bed! It is also very crowded and has no shade. Chichen Itza ruins are truly amazing, but they are a 3.5 hour drive. Coba is a perfect mix. It is less than an hour drive from Akumal, the ruins are engulfed in a beautiful jungle that provides shade, and the crowds are much thinner. When you get there you can rent bicycles (inside) or if you are not stable on a bicycle you can hire a bicycle rickshaw to take you around.
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Pirámide de Nohoch Mul
Coba archaeological siteThere are several ruins nearby. The main allure of the Tulum ruins is the spectacular coastal setting, but you will be looking at that every day from your bed! It is also very crowded and has no shade. Chichen Itza ruins are truly amazing, but they are a 3.5 hour drive. Coba is a perfect mix. It is less than an hour drive from Akumal, the ruins are engulfed in a beautiful jungle that provides shade, and the crowds are much thinner. When you get there you can rent bicycles (inside) or if you are not stable on a bicycle you can hire a bicycle rickshaw to take you around.
Arts & Culture
This is the closest ruin to Akumal, only 30 minutes away. Its spectacular oceanfront location is what draws the crowds. The structures themselves are limited, and be sure to bring sunscreen because there’s no shade.
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Archeological Zone of Tulum - Mayan Port City Ruins
Km 230 Cancun - ChetumalThis is the closest ruin to Akumal, only 30 minutes away. Its spectacular oceanfront location is what draws the crowds. The structures themselves are limited, and be sure to bring sunscreen because there’s no shade.
Shopping
Fifth Ave runs about 3-4 miles along a cobblestone street closed to cars and will have every shop, bar, and restaurant you can think of!
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Fifth Avenue
5 Avenida NorteFifth Ave runs about 3-4 miles along a cobblestone street closed to cars and will have every shop, bar, and restaurant you can think of!
Essentials
This is the pricier market in Akumal but has nearly everything. If you want a cheaper and larger selection of fruit, cross the bridge into Akumal Pueblo. For less expensive normal items, just cross the street to El Pueblito Store.
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Super Market Chomak Akumal General Store
This is the pricier market in Akumal but has nearly everything. If you want a cheaper and larger selection of fruit, cross the bridge into Akumal Pueblo. For less expensive normal items, just cross the street to El Pueblito Store.